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‘Dangerous’: Hong Kong rainstorm warning ignored as football Premier League turns farcical, with title race marred
- Flooding hits decisive matches in city’s top league after fixtures go ahead despite pleas to postpone
- ‘This is Hong Kong, what can you do? They just tell you to play,’ Tai Po coach Lee Chi-kin says
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The Hong Kong Premier League plunged into farce over the weekend, with football bosses condemned for the decision to ignore freak weather and proceed with fixtures that helped to decide the championship.
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Tai Po’s title challenge sank in conditions that were labelled dangerous, after they asked in vain to postpone their Saturday match and suffered injuries during it.
Hours later, third-placed Eastern’s game inexplicably began with a rainstorm warning still in effect before being halted after five minutes, resuming then being abandoned.
The fixtures took place during a day of extreme rain rarely seen in the city in May, which led some to compare it to the “once-in-500-years” storm that hit Hong Kong last September.
Thunderstorms and flooding left schools suspended, businesses closed and hikers stranded, but football’s elite competition ploughed ahead.
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